Spantik Base Camp Trek

Overview

Also known as Golden Peak for its golden wall facing Hunza-Nagar from the south, Spantik is the most attainable 7000m peak in the Karakoram. Spantik Peak base camp trek is a well-known jungle gym for mountain dwellers endeavoring their initial 7,000-meter top in Karakoram.

It is also called golden peak and Ghenish Chhish. We undertake a 12-day difficult round trip in the core of Karakoram, moving toward the base camp of this lovely peak on the fourth day of our trek. Not many adventurers visit this piece of Karakoram, so we have the chance to encounter the sentimental wild of Karakoram.

MAIN HIGHLIGHTS

This breathtaking trekking trip is a wounderful trekking opportunity in an extraordinary scope of mountains. The dramatic approach trek along the Chogolungma Glacier passes through various beautiful mountain surroundings far from the regular trekking routes. Straightforward climbing leads to the mountain’s summit, where clear weather conditions result in tremendous views in all directions.

There are two prominent ridges; South East and North West. South East is a long and demanding snow ridge with few technical difficulty sections and little objective danger.

This route was climbed on July 5, 1955, by a party led by K. Kramer. The North West (Golden Pillar) is a massive combination of ice and rock. The first successful summiteers on this route are British climbers Mick Fowler and Victor Saunders. Spantik is a truly Himalayan scale objective: an ideal next step for those who have previously climbed a 6000m trekking peak or for those preparing for an 8000m expedition.

  1. Trip Name: Spantik Base trek
  2. Best Season: June to September
  3. Stay: Camp/Hotel
  4. Duration: 15
  5. Zone: Restrict
  6. Range: Karakorum
DAYS ITINERARY SEE LEVEL RESIDENCE
01 Arrival at Islamabad International airport and transfer to hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Islamabad & Rawalpindi. Evening welcome dinner to meet the guide and group members. Hotel
02 Early morning flight to Skardu (weather-dependent). If flight is canceled, drive to Skardu with an overnight stay in Chilas. Hotel
03 If flight operated, go for sightseeing in Skardu; otherwise, travel by road from Chilas to Skardu. Hotel
04 Full-day jeep ride to Arandu, the last inhabited area before Chogo Lungma Glacier. Camp
05 Trek to Chogo Brangsa. We leave the last inhabited village of Arandu and begin our trek into the wilderness, with the local team carrying our supplies. Camp
06 4-6 hours trek to the mouth of Chogo Lungma Glacier. We pass Mani Kuru and spot the first view of Spantik Peak. Shepherds will be seen along the way. Camp
07 Cross Chogo Lungma Glacier to Spantik Karavan Base Camp, gaining height as we approach the base camp at the foot of Spantik’s Southeast Ridge. Camp
08 Rest day at base camp and meet with Spantik Expedition Members. Camp
09-11 Trek back to Arandu via the same route. Camp
12 Drive back to Skardu after breakfast. Hotel
13 Drive to Chilas after breakfast. Hotel
14 Drive to Islamabad via Babusar Pass. Overnight stay in Islamabad. Hotel
15 Transfer to the airport for your flight out. Fly Out

Services Included

  • All Airport pick and drop.
  • One-way fare between Skardu – Islamabad.
  • Transportation for briefing, debriefing, and sightseeing.
  • Transportation between Islamabad – Chilas – Skardu – Askoli – Hushe – Fairy Meadow.
  • Three nights’ accommodation in Islamabad (twin bedroom, bed & breakfast).
  • One night in Chilas Hotel with full board.
  • Two nights in Fairy Meadow with full board.
  • Two nights in Tarnishing with full board.
  • Three nights in Skardu with full board.
  • Local staff wages, insurance, food, and equipment.
  • Low porters to carry trekking food and member personal items to all mentioned places.
  • Luggage allowance: 25 kg per member (up and down).
  • All trekking and base camp food.
  • Fully equipped base camp:
    • Comfortable members tent, mess tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent, table, chairs, and kitchen utensils.
  • Assistance for reconfirmation of international flight tickets.
  • All camping fees, road taxes, and bridge crossing fees.
  • Low porter equipment.
  • Documentation fee.
  • Trekking permit fee.

Services Not Included

  • Member international flight tickets.
  • Helicopter emergency rescue fees (USD 15,000; refundable after deduction of USD 500 if not used).
  • Members' climbing gear.
  • Member personal insurance.
  • Sleeping bag and personal expenses (e.g., telephone calls, fax, email charges, liquor, or soft drinks).
  • Room service, gratuities, and other personal service charges.
  • Custom clearance charges (import/export of equipment).
  • Unforeseen expenses (e.g., roadblocks, extra hotel nights, extended Base Camp stay)—payable based on the number of extra days.
  • Additional charges for members who split from the group—costs will be based on average rates.

🔹 High-Altitude Gear

  • Fleece Jacket Warmer – 1 Piece
  • Light Down Pants – 1 Piece
  • Climbing Boot – 1 Pair
  • Crampons – 1 Pair
  • Harness – 1 Set
  • Locking Carabiner – 1 Piece
  • Non-Locking Carabiner – 1 Piece
  • Down Jacket & Pant – 1 Set
  • Ascending Jumar – 1 Piece
  • Descending 8 Figure – 1 Piece
  • Summit Gloves – 1 Pair

🔹 Personal Climbing Essentials

  • Normal Gloves – 2 Pair
  • Sleeping Bag – 1 Piece
  • Ice Axe – 1 Set
  • Helmet – 1 Piece
  • Tap Sling – 1 Piece
  • Sun Glass – 2 Piece
  • Sun Blocks – 1 Piece

Terms & Conditions

How to Book

We recommend booking well in advance by sending a non-refundable deposit of 25% Euro or USD and the tour price with a minimum deposit of 50% Euro or USD per person in advance. Some of the tours and ground arrangements may require a higher deposit of up to 80% with booking conditions. These details will be provided on confirmation of your booking. The deposit is required within 5 days of confirmation to hold your booking. The booking confirmation will include the exact deposit amount required and the due date of final payment. Please read these terms and conditions carefully and raise any questions you may have prior to making your booking. Receipt of deposit will be taken as an understanding by KARAKORUM GUIDES PAKISTAN that the customer has checked their confirmed travel arrangements and has read and agrees to abide by the terms and conditions. Any verbal quote given is an estimate only of the price which will be subject to advice on confirmation of the reservation, after which you will have 5 days to pay your nonrefundable deposit with 50% in advance tour price.

Price

Price we will give you after few discussion by e-mail or phone call. Should these costs change it may be necessary to make a surcharge on the price of your holiday which will be advised to you at the time you book. However no surcharge in respect to cost or currency fluctuations will be made to the arrangements of your holiday once full payment has been received by Karakorum Guides, unless any changes are made to your booking in accordance with these terms and conditions. This price guarantee does not apply to:

  • (i) fares, charges or levies imposed by airlines up until ticketing
  • (ii) any taxes, charges or levies imposed by any Government or their agencies and the banking transfer charges.

Amendments

One change per booking is permitted free of charge. Each subsequent change will incur a fee of 50 $ per amendment to cover extra administrative and communication costs. In addition, cancellation and/or amendment fees may also be imposed minimum of 500 $ or depending on the nature of the change. To the extent we are able to do so, we will advise you of all applicable cancellation and/or amendment charges at the time of confirmation of your booking. Separate conditions apply to air arrangements and are set out in Section 9 of these terms and conditions.

Late Bookings

A fee of 30 $ per booking will be levied for bookings made within 10 working days of departure from your home land. Any booking request made within 10 working days or within any relevant supplier’s cancellation period cannot be processed until full payment has been received by Karakorum Guides.

Land Only Service Charge

A $200 fee applies to land-only bookings for fewer than 2 nights of accommodation or 2 days of car rental.

Payments

We accept only bank transfers or cash. Card payments are not accepted.

Cancellations and Refunds

For Expeditions

If you decide to cancel your program or you are unable to travel, Karakorum Guides will refund the amount you have paid less (i) our reasonable costs and (ii) any cancellation fees imposed by other suppliers. It is likely that other suppliers’ cancellation fees (which we will pass on to you) will be greater when cancellation takes place closer to the departure date. If you notify us of cancellation more than 30 days before departure, then the cancellation charges are only 25% non-refundable deposit. If you notify us of cancellation less than 30 days before departure, the cancellation charges may be up to 50% of the total booking cost. Regrettably cancellation charges cannot be waived. No refunds are available for unused services after departure from your home land.

For Trekking/Tours

If you decide to cancel your program or you are unable to travel, Karakorum Guides will refund the amount you have paid less (i) our reasonable costs and (ii) any cancellation fees imposed by other suppliers. It is likely that other suppliers’ cancellation fees (which we will pass on to you) will be greater when cancellation takes place closer to the departure date. If you notify us of cancellation more than 15 days before departure, then the cancellation charges are only 25% of your deposit. If you notify us of cancellation less than 15 days before departure, the cancellation charges may be up to 50% of the total booking cost. Regrettably cancellation charges cannot be waived. No refunds are available for unused services after departure from your home land.

For Air Arrangements

Cancellation fees will apply as required by airlines regulations and will vary dependent upon the type of airfare utilized. Airfare prices and conditions are subject to change or withdrawal without notification until ticketed. Full payment is required before tickets can be issued. Karakorum Guides cannot be held liable for any increases in prices or changes in any airline regulations. Foreign currency airfares and airport taxes may fluctuate and are subject to the rate of exchange on date of ticket issue. Increases in airport taxes are not the responsibility of Karakorum Guides and can be imposed up to departure. To the extent we are able to do so we will advise you of any increases of which we are aware at the time of confirmation of your booking.

Consumer Claims

Should you encounter any problems on your holiday it is always better to try and solve it directly with the Tour Staff. If it is not possible to do so and you wish to lodge a complaint, please do so in writing within 30 days of completing your Karakorum Guides arrangements. These Terms and Conditions do not purport to exclude any statutory rights available to you and must in all cases be read subject to those statutory provisions.

Not Included in the Tour Cost

  • Visas and travel insurance
  • Climbing Royalty Fees and permits
  • Liaison officers and helicopter rescue
  • High camp food, oxygen, EPI gas
  • Climbing gear, excess baggage, customs clearance
  • Phone calls, laundry, extra meals or drinks, tips (Bakshish)

Any airfare taxes or surcharges will be listed separately in your booking confirmation if not included in your base price.

VARIATIONS

Considerable care has been taken to compile the information in this site but circumstances not within Karakorum Guides pakistan control may necessitate changes in itineraries, accommodation and costs in which case you will be informed as soon as possible. When it is necessary to change a hotel Karakorum Guides reserves the right to substitute accommodation of at least a similar standard. KGP cannot be held responsible for any changes which may occur and reserves the right to increase the price of any travel arrangement up to the date of payment in full (or the date of ticketing in the case of airfares). This includes adjustment for fuel surcharges, airfare increases as well as international exchange rate fluctuations. To the extent we are able to do so; we will notify you of any applicable change in price prior to you making payment in full. KGP may update these terms and conditions at anytime. Any changes to these terms and conditions made after booking will be advised to you. The current version of terms and conditions will always be found on the website www.karakorumguides.com If as a result of any of these variations either: (i) there is a material increase in the cost of your tour during the period between confirmation of your booking and the date on which you pay for your tour in full; or, (ii) you will suffer a material detriment, then you may cancel your tour, in which case KGP will refund the amount you have paid less any cancellation fees imposed by other suppliers.

HOTEL DESCRIPTIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Karakorum Guides will tell you the name and address of the hotel and their standard but Pictures may not show to the clients.

INSURANCE

Karakorum Guides will provide the insurance only for our staff and local porters and KGP not responsible for the clients insurance. In respect of illness, injury, death, loss of baggage and personal item cancellation and curtailment. You may purchase a suitable external policy with specialist travel insurance provider and give us their contact with your policy numbers in case of emergency.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

You are responsible for all immigration, passport, visa, health, quarantine and customs laws, regulations, orders, demands or other requirements of countries visited or transited. Official travel advice issued by the Pakistan Department of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior. We recommend that you review this information both prior to making your booking and prior to departure.

UNLICENSED ENTITY DISCLAIMER

If you request Karakorum Guides to arrange for the provision of products or services by a person or company which is not licensed in accordance with any applicable law, Karakorum Guides accepts no liability (whether in contract for negligence or otherwise) for any loss or damage suffered by you as a result.

RESPONSIBILITY

Karakorum Guides Pakistan accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:

  • A booking is accepted only after KGP receives the required deposit and issues the client or their travel agent confirmation invoices. The balance must be paid no later than 30 days before departure; otherwise, KGP will treat the booking as cancelled, regardless of whether a deposit is being held.
  • KGP acts solely as a coordinator of tours and an agent for the owners, contractors, and suppliers of transportation, accommodation, and/or related travel services. KGP assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to baggage or property, or for injury, illness, death, or any damages or claims arising directly or indirectly from accidents, delays, transport failures, strikes, wars, uprisings, or acts of God—events beyond our control. All coupon receipts and tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by third-party suppliers, and all services are governed by the laws of the country where they are provided.
  • All matters directly relating to the services provided by Karakorum Guides Pakistan will be handled in accordance with these stated responsibilities.

CANCELLATION BY US

Karakorum Guides reserves the right to cancel any Small Group Journey if minimum passenger numbers are not attained. Operation of these tours is dependent on a minimum number of persons booking on your tour. We will advise you of such cancellations no later than 30 days before departure date. However, KGP reserves the right to cancel a Small Group Journey at any time before departure due to Force Majeure (as defined below) or KGP reasonable consideration of adverse Government travel advice. With any form of cancellation, KGP will offer you alternative arrangements, and if the price of your alternative booking is a lower value than the original booking we will refund the difference to you. If you do not accept alternative arrangements we will refund all payments you have made to KGP, in the case of Force Majeure or government travel advice refunds will be less any of KGP unrecoverable costs. KGP will not be liable for any additional costs incurred by you. KGP will not be liable for any delay in, change to or cancellation of trips due to a circumstance beyond the reasonable control of KG and includes, but is not limited to, acts of God, fire, accident, interruptions to energy supplied, war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, disease, industrial or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions and strikes.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Karakorum Guides will not accept responsibility or liability for any clients who contravenes any law or regulation of any country visited. At all times the decision of the Local Guide / Tour Leader or representative will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip. You must, at all times, strictly comply with the laws, customs, and foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited. Should you fail to comply with the above, or should you interfere in our reasonable opinion with the well-being of the group then the leader or company representative may order you to leave the trip immediately with no right of refund.

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND AGE LIMITS

Before making a booking you must advise us of any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. You may be required to provide an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner if requested. If you fail to adequately notify us of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, we reserve the right, at our reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.

Important: By paying your deposit, you agree to all the terms listed here. Please contact us with any questions before confirming your booking.